5 Facts About the Two Ford Trucks Making a Comeback

Ford is set to bring back two old favorites: the Ranger compact pickup and the Bronco sport utility. With their highly anticipated return to the market, here are 5 facts that you should know about these two Ford trucks.

By Brett Foote - November 29, 2016

1. The New Ranger Will Be Less Compact Than the Old One

Unlike the Bronco, the Ranger never really went away. It's still on sale pretty much everywhere other than North America today, albeit in a very different form than the small Ranger we Americans remember. The current Ranger is much larger than the old one, with dimensions that come fairly close to the F-150 and put it squarely in the mid-size truck market. That means the new Ranger will compete with the Chevy Colorado, Toyota Tacoma, and Honda Ridgeline.

2. The Ranger Will Hit Production in 2018 or 2019

The same leaked UAW contract that confirmed the return of both the Ranger and the Bronco notes that the Ranger will begin production in 2018 as a 2019 model. That, of course, is subject to change, but one thing we do know for sure is that the Ranger will hit the production line before the Bronco does.

3. The Ranger Will Come With Multiple Engine Choices

Obviously, the forthcoming Ranger will be available with more than one engine choice, but what will they be? An EcoBoost, turbocharged four cylinder is a no-brainer and obvious choice, and so is a naturally aspirated V6. It is also believed that there will be a diesel engine available, designed to compete with the Colorado's oil burner. That diesel will likely be the current 3.2 liter, which is also used in Ford's Transit.

4. Both the Bronco and Ranger Will Be Built in the U.S.

As confirmed by UAW representative Bill Johnson (and the leaked proposed UAW contract), Ford intends to build both the Ranger and Bronco at its Michigan Assembly plant, right here in the good ol' U.S. of A. This despite news that Ford will move its car production to Mexico.

5. We Really Have No Idea What the Bronco Will Be Like

Unlike the Ranger, the Bronco is a real wild card. Will it be based on the F-150 like the previous generation, or will it be built on a more compact platform like the originals? Will it be a two door, four door, or both? You have to assume that it will share a platform with the Ranger since they will be build side-by-side, which means that it might end up being a version of Ford's Everest SUV. And even though there are tons of renderings floating around the Internet these days, we really have no idea what it will look like.